The Type A school bus manufacturer appoints two new dealers for the Canadian market and announces that its complete product line is now available in Canada. Meanwhile, Trans Tech’s SST school bus goes through Altoona STURAA testing, with results including an average miles per gallon of 9.60.

In the part-time role, Clements, who retired last year as director of transportation for California’s Kings Canyon Unified School District, will offer school bus industry advice and general operations knowledge to the company, among other duties. Last year, Motiv partnered with Trans Tech Bus to develop the SSTe all-electric school bus.

The company’s E-Guardian 5 engine pre-heater is available on the Type A school bus manufacturer’s buses immediately. The E-Guardian 5 is EPA verified and California Air Resources Board approved, and officials say some of the benefits of the system include a warm engine start without plug-ins, reduced engine idling for fuel savings, less engine maintenance and use of the Multi-Max Digital Controller for ease of use.

The SSTe is the first of four electric buses in service at Kings Canyon Unified School District (KCUSD), and officials say the bus is expected to save over $10,000 a year in fuel and maintenance costs. Transportation Director Jason Flores says that going electric “is just one more important step in KCUSD's ongoing portfolio of measures to protect our children, serve our community and be good stewards of our environment.”

The SSTe is now legal to operate in the state after passing the California Highway Patrol’s certification, and the first bus is scheduled to go to Kings Canyon Unified School District in Reedley, Calif. Officials for Trans Tech Bus say the SSTe is scheduled to start full production later this year.

New offerings that were on view and introduced during the show in Grand Rapids, Mich., include an all-electric school bus, a wheelchair retractor tie-down system, heater kits, LED lights and fleet management solutions.

John Phraner, president of the Type A school bus manufacturer, says the dealership has helped the company grow its sales and offers “the best service and support” to its customers. Earlier this year, Leonard Bus Sales opened a Trans Tech-specific sales and customer support facility in Garden City Park, N.Y.

The Type A school bus manufacturer and Motiv Power Systems have developed the SST-e, which will be revealed at the National Association for Pupil Transportation trade show on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bus is built on a Ford E-450 chassis, utilizing the all-battery, all-chassis compatible Motiv electric Powertrain Control System, and has a capacity of 30 students, or 24 students and one wheelchair, according to company officials.

Many school districts and contractors are employing a variety of vehicles to supplement traditional yellow bus service. These alternative arrangements often cut costs and shorten ride times, but the safety implications of transporting students in taxis, vans and other non-school bus vehicles have become a contentious issue.

Hall comes to the Type A school bus manufacturer with more than 19 years of production and manufacturing experience in the military equipment industry. He will be responsible for all operations of Trans Tech Bus.